How to Test a Capacitor for a Freezer
Whether you have a chest freezer or your freezer is attached to a refrigerator, the electrical components within the appliance work the same way. When you set the thermostat, electricity passes through the freezer's capacitor to the compressor which lowers the temperature of the air in the freezer – keeping your food cold and reducing bacterial growth. If the capacitor on your freezer goes bad, the freezer may start making noises or stop working altogether. You can use a multimeter to test your freezer and find out if a faulty capacitor is the source of your appliance's problems.
Step 1
Turn off the power to the freezer.
Step 2
Locate the freezer's electrical access panel. A freezer's electrical access panel is generally located on the back of the unit, but the panel's location may vary depending on the appliance's brand and whether the freezer in question is part of a freezer/refrigerator combo.
Step 3
Unscrew and open the electrical access panel and locate the capacitor. A freezer's capacitor is attached to the appliance's compressor.
Step 4
Lay the metal end of your screwdriver over the two terminals on top of the capacitor. Because capacitors store electricity, you must discharge the stored electricity within the unit before touching it.
Step 5
Disconnect the wiring connected to the capacitor. Disconnecting the wiring ensures that your multimeter will give you an accurate reading of the capacitor's condition.
Step 6
Set your multimeter to "capacitance." Match up the multimeter's negative and positive leads with the capacitor's negative and positive terminals. Compare the microfarad reading the multimeter supplies with the microfarad rating noted on the capacitor itself. If the multimeter reads a significantly lower amount of microfarads than the capacitor should supply, you have a weak capacitor and should replace it soon.
Step 7
Set your multimeter to test ohms if it lacks a capacitance setting. Hook up the positive and negative leads on the multimeter to the capacitor's negative and positive terminals. If the needle on the multimeter moves, this indicates that the capacitor is storing a charge. If the needle does not move, the capacitor is no longer functional.
References
- John Wainwright; Phillips Heating & Air; Morristown, New Jersey
- University of Maryland Department of Physics: Discharge of Capacitor With Bang
- Fluke: User's Manual (p.15)
Resources
Warnings
- Checking the ohms of a freezer's capacitor only tells you whether the capacitor works or not. It does not tell you how well the capacitor is working.
- If your freezer is still under warranty, have a professional come and inspect the unit for you. Opening the electrical access panel and testing the capacitor yourself could void the appliance's warranty.
Writer Bio
Ciele Edwards holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and has been a consumer advocate and credit specialist for more than 10 years. She currently works in the real-estate industry as a consumer credit and debt specialist. Edwards has experience working with collections, liens, judgments, bankruptcies, loans and credit law.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
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